Paige21. Chameleon
Member
I'm a newer chameleon owner, I've had my Jackson chameleon for three months now, and I've never handled him awake. Is there anyway to get him on my hand, or anyway to not scare him when handling?
How do I slowly introduce handling?
- Thread starter Paige21. Chameleon
- Start date
Dame of Thrones
Member
One of the things I've always read was to hold like a branch for him to walk onto. Takes patience to get them comfortable with you...or at least tolerant of you. Also hand feeding I've heard works. The reason I use the word "heard" is because we lucked out with our chameleon in that he was chill with us holding him. He doesn't run from us, but we still don't handle him much.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Paige21. Chameleon
Member
Darthroastcoffee
Avid Member
Yea it’s all about patience I’ll hold my hand in front of the cage but not go in at about the same height as him and just wait for about 5 mins if he shows signs that he’s scared just slowly back out and just shut the door and try again later he will eventually come around
Paige21. Chameleon
Member
Ok thanks
davidjames
Member
I have a few tropical plants in the window which my veiled is allowed to crawl in when I am home. I have found that creating a "hand bridge" to help him get to more challenging locations has helped to establish trust. Also, another vote for hand feeding.
YoshiTheChameleon17
New Member
Hand feeding has helped me a lot with my chameleon. He slowly but surely started to come around. But, he has his days. Oh boy does he have his days ha. He will hiss and let me know he isn’t in the mood (usually when he’s shedding)
LittleVeiledExplorer
Member
I agree with the other posts. It takes time, patience, and knowing your chameleon. (Treats are a big factor as well 
) I think it is best to start with the hand feeding as it is a pretty big sign of trust. It is like a positive reinforcement type deal. Eventually he may want to come out and explore the room his cage is in. And for that part I think it is best to go with davidjames's technique. It seems to lower the stress level. Anyhow, just take it slow. This is all just stuff that I have gathered from my experience with my one veiled and reading about other people's advice/research. And every chameleon has a different demeanor, so what works with one person might not work with another. Good luck!
) I think it is best to start with the hand feeding as it is a pretty big sign of trust. It is like a positive reinforcement type deal. Eventually he may want to come out and explore the room his cage is in. And for that part I think it is best to go with davidjames's technique. It seems to lower the stress level. Anyhow, just take it slow. This is all just stuff that I have gathered from my experience with my one veiled and reading about other people's advice/research. And every chameleon has a different demeanor, so what works with one person might not work with another. Good luck!
Darthroastcoffee
Avid Member
I got 6 panther chameleons two veileds and a male Jackson I never hand fed any of them I can do what I said and any one would come right out even the ones I recently got. just got to show them trust and have patience if you keep them in a busy environment it will be a little bit harder I read somewhere before I got my first veiled the more they see you the more they get used to you I spend a lot of time around my chameleons even if im not doin anything I’ll just hang out without bothering them. I’m not saying hand feeding don’t work I’m just saying there’s other ways that may be less stressful
